conflict 1 of 2

noun

ˈkän-ˌflikt How to pronounce conflict (audio)
Definition of conflictnext
1
as in strife
a lack of agreement or harmony the conflict between absolute freedom and personal responsibility

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2
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups an armed conflict between strikers and strikebreakers

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3
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups the United Nations strives to prevent international conflicts

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4
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the eternal conflict between the forces of good and evil

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conflict

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈflikt How to pronounce conflict (audio)
as in to clash
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably his statement conflicts with the facts, as given in the police report

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun conflict contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of conflict are contention, discord, dissension, strife, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

In what contexts can contention take the place of conflict?

The words contention and conflict are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When might discord be a better fit than conflict?

Although the words discord and conflict have much in common, discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When can dissension be used instead of conflict?

The synonyms dissension and conflict are sometimes interchangeable, but dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Where would strife be a reasonable alternative to conflict?

In some situations, the words strife and conflict are roughly equivalent. However, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

When could variance be used to replace conflict?

While in some cases nearly identical to conflict, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conflict
Noun
The story of Mamdani is a microcosm of the internal conflict within competing factions of the Democratic Party. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025 In contexts not concerning the elite private colleges of New England and their decades-old conflicts and syllabi and on-campus squabbles, this mode of prestige media procedure matters absolutely and enormously, at scales difficult to tabulate. —Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Politics often influenced these decisions, as living in the mansion could conflict with an image of humility or connection to everyday New Yorkers. —Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 5 Nov. 2025 At the same time, Kavanaugh questioned whether limiting presidential authority in emergencies could conflict with past precedent, citing President Richard Nixon’s use of similar powers. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
  1. strife
  2. clash
  3. hostilities
  4. rivalry
  5. collide
  6. discord
  7. skirmish
  8. war
Noun
  • Much of this strife, including throughout the 1967-1970 civil war and subsequent clashes over the decades, has also been closely tied to feuds across ethnic and territorial lines.
    — Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Things kick off with a bit of inter-family strife, involving a young predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi).
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of strife
Noun
  • Much of this strife, including throughout the 1967-1970 civil war and subsequent clashes over the decades, has also been closely tied to feuds across ethnic and territorial lines.
    — Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Pfizer and Novo Nordisk are in a takeover clash over the obesity biotech Metsera, with both pharmaceutical giants raising their bids for the startup as of Monday.
    — Annika Kim Constantino,Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of clash
Noun
  • What Happens Next The current lull in hostilities may be more strategic than permanent, offering a brief window for both sides to reassess and recalibrate.
    — Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
  • One can be sure that the utility of having hostilities with Venezuela for this case is not lost on the administration.
    — David Smilde, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Definition of hostilities
Noun
  • In recent decades, Thailand and Cambodia have had a complicated relationship of both cooperation and rivalry.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The Fighting Irish have absolutely dominated the rivalry in recent years, taking down the Panthers with a 58-7 final score in 2023 and a 45-3 final score in 2020.
    — Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of rivalry
Verb
  • The worlds of digital production, the creator economy and traditional media collided at the Digital Content Forum at the BFI on London’s South Bank this week.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The left engine detached from the wing during takeoff, and the plane crashed moments after departure, colliding with structures in the neighboring industrial area to the south of the airport.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of collide
Noun
  • Along the way, there’s been a fair amount of discord between Schon and Cain that played out in legal filings, social media posts, and interviews.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
  • But that policy has been tested by Maguire’s comments, reportedly leading to discord within the firm.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of discord
Noun
  • David Wolf, the executive director of the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Scottsbluff, said experts estimate that as many 10 people died for every mile of the trail ‒ perhaps as many as 20,000 travelers, plus an unknown number of Native Americans killed during skirmishes.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The skirmish brought players from both teams out of the dugouts and out of the bullpens.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Definition of skirmish
Noun
  • Just a few months ago, McKenna was weighing the two schools against each other, the Spartans finishing as runners-up in his historic recruiting war.
    — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • From the very first days of the First World War, the German Empire was looking for someone capable of sparking a revolution in Russia and forcing the country to withdraw from the war with Germany — so that the Germans could focus their forces on fighting the British and the French.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of war

Browse Nearby Words

conflations
conflict
conflicted
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Cite this Entry

“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conflict

Nglish: Translation of conflict for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conflict

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